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Growing practices

How we grow.

We are always innovating and updating our growing practices to reduce our environmental footprint, from sourcing natural inputs from local manufacturers to incorporating compost to reduce water use.

Tractor working between rows of young apple trees, mountains behind

Certified organic

Natural inputs, and the whole ecosystem watched.

We care deeply about using naturally occurring inputs and monitoring our farming ecosystem, so we improve soil tilth and prevent ecological damage. These are the seven practices behind every apple and grape.

  1. Composting 01
  2. Cover cropping 02
  3. Insect monitoring 03
  4. Lab testing 04
  5. Water conservation 05
  6. Weed control 06
  7. Certified organic 07

01 Every spring

Composting

Every spring, a strip of horse manure compost is spread down all our tree rows.

What the compost does

  • SoilRetains soil moisture
  • InsectsPromotes insect biodiversity
  • HabitatShelters beneficial insects
  • NutrientsImproves nutrient cycling
  • LifeRaises soil microbial levels
  • InputsReduces the need for fertilizers

02 Between the rows

Cover cropping

Between the rows of trees and vines, we plant a variety of cover crops from year to year. Each species brings its own benefits.

What we sow

MustardRapeseedRed cloverWhite cloverCrimson cloverBarleyRye
  • Nitrogen fixation
  • Breaking up compaction
  • Adding organic matter
  • Moisture retention
  • Fumigation
  • Food and shelter for beneficials
  • Keeping nutrients out of ground water
Young vine shoot with a ladybird on a leaf

03 Every week

Insect monitoring

Every week we monitor the population levels and life cycles of key pests and beneficial insects. Keeping a close eye on the beneficials, not only the pests, is critical to a robust pest control system.

It lets us time every input so it does no harm to the beneficial insects.

04 Through the season

Lab testing

Testing the soil, foliage, fruitlets and fruit is how we know which nutrients the plants are actually using. We take a number of these tests at set times, so no nutrients are wasted and any deficiency is addressed before it can do physiological damage.

SoilIn the ground
FoliageThe leaves
FruitletsYoung fruit
FruitRipe fruit

05 Drip, not spray

Water conservation

Every tree and vine is irrigated through drip tubing, which cuts water loss from 60% to 3% compared with traditional sprinkler systems.

Checked weeklySoil moisture is monitored every week.
Probes and forecastsWatering is adjusted to the soil moisture probes and the weather, so no water is wasted.
60%Water lost by traditional sprinklers→3%Water lost by our drip tubing

06 The tricky one

Weed control

In organic farming, controlling weeds is very tricky, because synthetically derived herbicides such as glyphosate or 2,4-D are not permitted. To control weeds well we use compost and organic herbicides such as vinegar.

Timing each application to the right humidity and temperature of the day can make all the difference.

Not permitted

  • Glyphosate
  • 2,4-D

What we use

  • Compost
  • Organic herbicides, such as vinegar
A hand holding a dark grape cluster in the vineyard

07 Since 2016

Certified organic

Sauk Farm has been certified organic by the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) since 2016. Certification means following federal and state organic regulations, such as using only certified organic fertilizers and seeds.

An annual in-depth onsite auditEvery year, the operation is inspected on the farm.

Organic fruit

See what all that care grows.

The apples and grapes we pick each September and October, variety by variety.

Our organic fruit →
Bins of freshly picked red grapes in the vineyard

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